VW Golf FAQ

Used VW Golf

Question: ...Vw Golf?
I'm in the market for a used car. I know I need a small car (due to my parking situation) and a hatch would be great. I'm particularly interested in a VW Golf nearby that has about 60k miles on it. I've heard some really great things about VWs and some really not great things... I was just wondering if the Golf is a good car, or not?

Answer: While overall a nice car, they have not been very reliable. Electrical problems and squeaks and rattles will likely surface. Repairs and maintenance are also on the pricey side. Parts can be hard to come by, and VW's often require special tools and software that only dealerships and mechanics specializing (and charging more) in VW's have. Overall a 2yr old VW is about as reliable as an 8 year old Toyota. The standard motor (the 1.8 turbo has had a lot of problems with ignition coils) is also a tad on the underpowered side, but not sure if that is important to you or not. Your best bet would be a Honda or Toyota, and maybe even a Subaru.

Question: Do VW Golf [1995] Headlights fit VW Cabrio [1995]?
Do VW Golf [1995] Headlights fit VW Cabrio [1995]? Just asking, cause I found these awesome projector headlights, for a 95 VW golf, and want to put them on my cabrio.

Answer: Yes it'll be a mk3 cabrio so the lamps will be the same as the mk3 Golf hatchback.

Question: VW Golf 1.8 GL 1995.Is it worth it?
Hey people,
I have noticed a car on autotrader.Its a 1995 VW Golf GL 1.8.Its going for £895.It is a hatchback, 5dr petrol, PAS, Warranty and also comes with 10 months MOT.

What the advert doesnt say is the mileage on there?Whats the rough mileage estimate and is it worth it?Are VW Golfs reliable cars?

Any other comments and opinions would be nice.

Answer: For that price it will have to be in mint condition you could always make an offer he will only say yes or no have a look at other golfs and compare prices

Question: VW Golf warranty?
I have bought a 2002 VW Golf 1.9 TDi from a VW dealer. They have given me the option of taking a 24 month warranty for £350. Is it worth taking out? Mileage is 40k and cambelt has just been changed

Answer: a big tip here.
the most common faults that exists on your car are the following.
timing belt tensioner(breaks up)
radiator (rust badly)
rear washer jet(loose hose)
knocking noise from front suspension(anti roll bar bushes)
condensation inside car(water comes in through window regulators)
middle exhaust section(scraping noise when accelerating)
last but not least (the water pump breaks up quite easily)
as you can appreciate £350 doesn't sound bad

Question: VW Golf MK5 - Original Bodykit (Standard Dealer fit)?
Please can someone show me sites which offer Standard VW Exterior Styling Kits for the Golf MK5 (IE Officical VW Kit)

answer: for the official vw kit (color of car, not blk)... go to vw.com and go to the accessories, and it is there.

Question: VW Golf MK3, 1996 : wont start then turn lights flash once and shshsh noise comes from dashboard. Any idea?
Hi, i try to start my VW Golf MK3. The engine may turn once or twice then nothing. Then the turn signal lamps flash once (on the dashboard and outside of the car), a strange shshsh noise comes from the dashboard and the speedometer needle bumps up and down. The code 'IN 01' has been showing for a couple of months now but I ignored it. The battery sounds flat but what I want toknow is what my VW is trying to tell me. thank you for your patience. I did check for an hour on the internet about similar question but nothing was found.

Answer: I dont know that answer, but I would check on the boards at www.vwvortex.com theres a lot of guys on there that will probably know what youre talking about. Its pretty much the best resource Ive found for v-dubs.

Question: VW Golf (Mk IV 1.6 SE) - What tyre pressure for non standard tyre size, gone from 14" alloys to 16"?
I have a VW Golf 1.6 SE (2001 Mark 4 Model). The standard tyre size is 14" alloys, however I have replaced these with 16" VW Alloys with a tyre size of 205/55/16. The alloys are the 'Brands Hatch' ones which come as standard on the VW Golf 2.8 V6 4Motion (Mark 4 Model).

My question is, what tyre pressure do I require on these tyres fitted to my car?

Answer: This depends on the tire size you are running. Less sidewall for the most part means increased tire pressure. Something like a 40 series tire can require as high as 35-40 psi. Since you have gone with a larger wheel, your tire profile should be much smaller in order to keep the same overall diameter. The recommended tire pressure should be stated however on the sidewall of the tire. Don't be surprised if it is much higher than what you were previously running. And by the way, send some dubs this way. We don't get any of the fun ones in the US.

Question: 1998 or 2001 VW Golf - which one to buy?
My husband and I have decided to buy a VW golf and are npw deciding between a 1998 VW golf 4th generation or 2001 VW golf 4th generation.

They both have the same KM's on them and the 2001 is only $1500 more than the 1998.

The 1998 origional RRP was $29 000 Au but the 2001 was only $26 000 Au RRP.

I wonder why the 1998 came out so much dearer and weather it has any bearing on the quality of the car.

Are there any VW owners that can help me?
Thanks!

Answer: If you are planning on keeping the car forever then get the 98. If you are planning to resell at an time in the near future get the '01. Market forces are the main influences on new car prices and don't reflect build quality.

Question: '02 VW Golf GLS Sometimes Won't Start?
Sometimes I can't get my VW Golf to start. It cranks at normal speed but the engine will not turn over. Sometimes if I stop and come back a few minutes later it will start right up. Other times it has started again after a day or so. What could be the problem? It never stalls once it's started. I don't think it's the battery because the lights and stereo function normally when this happens. I am taking it to an independent VW mechanic, but want to have some idea of what it could be before I go. Thanks.

Answer: Keep in mind you need 3 things for an engine to run. Spark, fuel, and air. With the sporatic nature you can probably rule out air. I agree with the other guy about the ignition coil but dont leave out a bad fuel pump, relay or ignition switch. When it happens, lift up the bottom portion of the right rear seat, lift up the carpet flap covering the fuel pump. Have someone listen to the pump while you turn the key to the run position not all the way to the start position, pump should come on for 2 seconds. If pump does not come on then its either the pump or relay, since relay is cheaper, go with that first. If the pump does come on look into the ignition coil either being loose on the mount or bad. Good luck

Question: Diesel Vw Golf?
I'm about to buy a Vw Golf, diesel, the thing is all the cars i've seen so far the milage is around 60,000 to 80,000 on a 05-06 plate, what is the maximum i can go for ? does the milage matter with VW diesel engine? how long they can last for?

Thank you all

Answer: By all means take note of other answers. Remember this. A car that has done 60 or 80 k miles in a couple of years is unlikely to have done it driving around the Town centre or on shopping trips. More likely it has covered the miles on the motorway in top gear with very little use on the brakes and steering etc etc. I maintain a fleet of VW vans, they typically do 4 or 5 thousand a month. I change the oil at 15 k intervals. The brakes pads only need replacing once a year, the discs every 18 months to two years, clutches last 130 k miles and exhausts, well, one exhaust middle box, no front pipe or tail pipe in 240 k miles !!!! The point is that the van is on top of its work and is performing at its optimum under these conditions. I would not worry too much !

Question: VW Golf GL 1.8.Is it worth it?
Hey people,
I have noticed a car on autotrader.Its a 1995 VW Golf GL 1.8.Its going for £895.It is a hatchback, 5dr petrol, PAS, Warranty and also comes with 10 months MOT.

What the advert doesnt say is the mileage on there?Whats the rough mileage estimate and is it worth it?Are VW Golfs reliable cars?

Any other comments and opinions would be nice.

Answer: Yes Golfs are fairly reliable cars, but after 12 years it could still be a smouldering heap under its freshly-valeted exterior. Treat it as you would any old banger, i.e. take it for a good drive, listen for any undue noise, look for smoke, check all the numbers on the reg document match the car....all the usual stuff.
I doubt the warranty's worth anything with a car that age. I'd rather take it to a trusted MOT station and pay them the £50 to get a new MOT, since the existing one might well have been done at a 'friendly' garage! Putting a car through an MOT test is one of the best ways of getting it checked out, tell the tester you're thinking of buying the car and he'll give you his opinion. If the seller objects to this, ask yourself why, as you walk away!

Question: VW golf 03 airbag light is on?
i had some "work" done on my car (vw golf'03) about a month ago, at a dealership. they supposedly replaced a break light switch, did the front breaks.they didnt put it back together well at all; one thing that was bugging me was when turning the wheel, it makes this screeching noise but i could live with that. thing is, now the airbag light is on, and i heard cars dont pass inspections with that on, and it costs like $800 to get it fixed. i want to give the dealership hell, but i have no clue about cars. i know they're gonna try to get out of it, so i need some info so i could argue my case... could they have messed up some sensor that set of the airbag light?

answer: ok, calm down
The first thing is u have to check the electric plug of the airbag at steering wheel, at passenger side and two seat-belt, see those plug tight or no.........if no tight it, then light will off...
The second thing is u have to check ur car by Scan tool, and reset ur mochule airbag....
And the last thing , if u want to pass inspection, u should take out the guage and then use black tap to hide the light......ok

Question: Difference between VW Golf and Golf GTI?
Is there a difference between the VW Golf and Golf GTI? Is the GTI just a different/additional name for the car, or does the GTI have some added features (and if so, what)?

Answer: It's the same car... I just checked the Volkswagon website. Cuz I been wondering the same thing for a while lol.

Edit: But wait there's the Rabbit... WTF?!!

Question: Vw golf 1.8 petrol?
friends vw golf 1.8 petrol needed to be jump started as it had little use over the christmas period. it started first time and ran sweet. when she didn't use it for two weeks the battery went flat, and her brotherin law attempted to bump start it down a hill, when we towed it back to her house it we tried to tow start it but it didn't even try to fire, we suspected battery and brought a replacement, when we fitted the battery on the car it still does not fire and we think there's no spark to either the spark plugs and the distributer, we have tried another coil and h t lead but to no provail. also the drivers and rear drivers door will not open, we suspect immoboliser problem but any suggestions would be grateful

Answer: Was there any noise at all on trying to turn the key? I would start with the start motor anyhow, you dont have to change it, give it a thump with a hammer if that makes any difference at all then change it. I doubt it would be the Immobiliser as they are usually a fuel cut which means it would still turn over just very rapidly and not catch.

When you say it wasnt even trying to fire, do you mean it was turning over or do you mean just nothing at all? also if you think theres no spark do you have a multimeter to test the fuses under the bonnet?

Question: VW Golf & Rabbit - Good first car? (mk Iv+)?
A friend of mine bought a 2001 Golf GTi, and he has had nothing but problems with it, however I have personally enjoyed VW since I was eight, but I do not want a car that will break down on me once a month. so are Mk IV Golf's Reliable? What about MK V Golf/Rabbits?

Answer: Had a golf. Was rearended by a Ford Explorer doing 55 mph. The damage never reached into the passenger compartment, with exception to the flying glass.
I liked the car, but I bought a Cadillac after that. I wanted to have more metal between me and somebody hitting my car. There was not much trade-off in gas mileage. I average 31 mpg highway and 24 mpg city. In fact my foot gets better gas mileage than the cruise control. In fact I get 3 mpg better than the cruise control, having my foot on the accelerator.
The reason I liked the Golf was for a car its size it had great suspension and handling.

Question: VW Golf RPM are going up and down at idle.?
i have vw golf 1992 automatic. yesterday i got the ac compressor replaced (along with the rec/drier unit). since then when i start my car and then ac, the rpm will shoot upto 2000 or lil more (at idle). i tried to engage the gear and the rpm came down to 1000 approx.
while chaginf the compressor the mechanic had to remove the air filter unit (all wiring intact) and fixed it back.

i believe it has somehitgn to do with air intake or some other sensor. plugs might be ok, because everything was fine uptil before the mechanic started working on it.

please help

Answer: First off, check all the vaccuum pipes (thin air pipes) are attached and not leaking, this would be the most likely cause on an automatic. Then check the wiring to the idle speed control valve on the side of the throttle body, though this shouldn't have been disturbed. Check also that the Mass airflow sensor located in the big air pipe from the filter housing to the throttle body is connected, this would have been disturbed and would cause the symptoms described.
In any case, I would take it back to the garage, you paid them to do a job and its not right. Get them to put it right.

Question: VW GOLF - 5W30 or 10W40?
Can someone please tell me the correct oil for my car? I have a 2001 VW Golf 2.0 liter. It has 90000 miles. The average temperature here is around 80 degrees. What is the correct oil to use - I want to use mobil one synthetic.

Answer: 10W40 is enought even if it's a 16 valves motors (i guess it's a 8v isn't it?). You don't have to use such a fluid oil such as 5W30, but you'll get better mpg with it.
In france a 15W40 is usually used with small engines, like 1.4 liters....

Question: VW Golf making weird sound.?
I have a VW Golf 1.6 SE i just bought it, 1 week later took it for a service and they told me i need to change the brake disks as they are worn off, £360. So i just drove it home, all was good until i stalled the car, i listed the clutch up when it was in first gear (i thought it was neutral). So anyways now when the car starts it means like a screeching noise whenever the car starts i used to get this before but once every full moon ... now its every time i start it up!!! i called the mechanic guy and he said when he full serviced it he didnt find crap. and i should bring it back problem is i dont have any more money!! if i dont fix this problem now will i have a bigger problem?

Answer: Take it to the mechanic, and explain everything just as you did here. Ask them your questions here.

Question: Vw golf tdi 1.9 52reg burning rubber smell?
i have just bought a vw golf 52 reg with the specs in the title i cant really say when it happens but every so often it smells of burning rubber i cant smell it from the tyres or the engine its just inside the car any ideas what this could be?

i have just bought a vw golf 52 reg with the specs in the title i cant really say when it happens but every so often it smells of burning rubber i cant smell it from the tyres or the engine its just inside the car any ideas what this could be? sorry laura i dont know how to reply to you but the car is not brand new its a 52 reg its about 5 year old i think now.

oh ok i get it i think so anyways the car isnt brand new although i bought it from a car dealers but not the main dealer and also the smell seems to come from the air vents but i cant smell burning from the tyres of the engine its just seems like its from the air vents or in the car.

Answer: if it smells really bad when u rev the engine might be the clutch

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